Sheffield’s Still Waiting

Gary Sheffield is getting frustrated.

The San Francisco Giants are pitching around the Atlanta right fielder, who is batting .071 in the National League division series, and patience isn’t among his attributes.

“The thing is, when I try to change my game plan and make ‘em throw me strikes, you don’t get a call on a 3-and-2 count,” said Sheffield, hitless in four at-bats in Sunday’s 8-3 loss in Game 4 at Pacific Bell Park. “I’m just going to have to start swinging away and hope that something hap- pens.”

He has contributed in the series, hitting a solo home run in Game 1 and walking three times in Game 3, but Sheffield expects more of himself. The Braves are hoping for a big performance from him in tonight’s decisive Game 5 at Turner Field.

“The key to it is for us to get a lot of guys on base, like [in Game 3], when they had to pitch to certain guys,” he said. “Right now, when guys are not on base, they’re not going to pitch to certain guys, especially when they have the lead.

“Hopefully, we can get a lot of guys on and get ‘em in. That’s the key.”

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Russ Ortiz, scheduled to start tonight, won Game 1 for the Giants at Turner Field and enjoys pitching on the road. The right-hander worked seven solid innings in his last start, provid- ing an additional confidence boost.

“You definitely draw from that,” said Ortiz, who had a 3.77 road earned-run average during the season. “That’s very important, especially in a place like Atlanta during this time of the year.”

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Atlanta right-hander Kevin Millwood, who won Game 2, returned home Sunday morning in advance of tonight’s start. He will be working on three days’ rest.

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The Giants are trying to become the first NL team in the history of the division series to advance to the championship series after trailing, 2-1.

Six AL teams have accomplished the feat.